Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger

Front of Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger pack

A true story of the American dream, Maxpedition® is the brainchild of founder and CEO Tim Tang, who dropped out of medical school in 2003 to start his own company in his parents’ garage. Ten years (and several progressively larger warehouses) later, Maxpedition is now thriving in its own Los Angeles-based corporate and distribution compound.

Innovative from the start, Maxpedition gained a competitive edge in its early years by creating bags and packs with superior durability and ergonomics, such as the Versipack® and Gearslinger® series. Early customers were military operators and law enforcement officers, but the civilian and concealed-carry markets quickly caught on, selecting Maxpedition as their preferred EDC (Every Day Carry).

While already the leader in their market space, Maxpedition is committed to improvement, optimizing ergonomics, creating user-friendly designs, and using only the highest quality materials and world-class craftsmanship. They strive to make their products more accessible to customers around the world through an expanding international network, while finding even better ways to service customers, both before and after the sale.

Still family owned after 11 years, Maxpedition is breaking new ground with innovations in bags, packs and pouches. They are also diversifying, with a new range of knives and tools, as well as a line of morale patches.

It doesn’t matter how many packs I’ve seen over the years—I enjoy reviewing packs and bags. It goes way back to my youth, showing up to my first professional bull riding with my gear in a burlap sack and my riggin’ in an old purse my mother had thrown away.

Bull riders had plenty of jokes about this cowboy who was too poor to buy the cool-guy stuff. But nothing stops jokes like winning a couple of go-rounds and using the extra cash to invest in a quality bag.

Maxpedition’s motto is “harduse gear”—and they mean it. I have carried and trusted a Maxpedition Fatboy™ Versipack for years. When I change vehicles— either personal or department— the Fatboy goes with me.

Main compartment’s zipper allows full clamshell opening.

I recently had the opportunity to evaluate the Sitka™ Gearslinger. Like the Fatboy, the Sitka is great for hiking or just having emergency items with you in a vehicle. The first thing I noticed was this pack is similar to a backpack because of how it can be worn. Wearing it slung over the left shoulder—for right-handed shooters—leaves the right shoulder open to shoulder a long gun (left-handed versions available).

The Sitka Gearslinger has an ergonomic three-inch-wide shoulder strap, two-inch quick-release buckle, six channels of PALS webbing, key retainer, and concealable sternum strap made from .75-inch webbing. The shoulder strap is padded and fully adjustable.

The pack can also be rotated and worn in front and the compartments accessed while sitting down. The fact that this pack can be worn sitting down in a vehicle saves space, and you can still bail out quickly with all your gear and be rolling. I like that. My pack does not have to be in the back of the vehicle if I am out hunting big game or defending against an attack. I can bail out if necessary and if I can’t get back to the vehicle for a while, I’ve got essential gear with me.

Sitka pack can be rotated and worn in front, allowing easy access to front pockets.

The heavy-duty zipper runs around three sides of the Sitka Gearslinger for a full clamshell-type opening. Once the pack is open, it has plenty of room for larger gear.

The pockets are secured with one-inch webbing with quick-release buckle.

Pack can be easily transferred to the back and will not interfere with operation of a long gun.

The Gearslinger comes in five colors: Black, Khaki, Foliage Green, OD Green, and a combination of Khaki and Foliage Green. It has a suggested retail price of $144.99.

The colors the Sitka comes in signify to many that the wearer may be armed. The one thing I’d change would be to expand the selection of colors. The Fatboy I mentioned earlier comes in 15 different colors, everything from Black to Pink. Some of these colors may not be as “tacti-cool,” but they also won’t give you away.

If I were giving this pack a grade, it would be an “A.” No big surprise to me as it is what I have come to expect from Maxpedition.